Continuous Global N-Tuple Coverage with (2N = 2) Satellites

Abstract

This report is annotated briefing covering research on arrays or constellations of satellites giving n-tuple continuous, global-line-of-sight coverage of a planet using the minimum number of satellites. A generalized theory was developed which appears to fit cases for any level of redundancy. Except for the case for single coverage, which is a tetrahedral array, all of the constellations can be characterized as either skew- or congruent-prismoidal arrays. The constellation altitudes increase with increasing levels of redundancy. Keywords: Satellites; Constellations; Coverage; Continuous coverage; Global coverage; Minimum satellite coverage; Arrays; Networks.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 02, 1989
Accession Number
ADA206522

Entities

People

  • Henry M. Bowers
  • John E. Draim

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Altitude
  • Artificial Satellites
  • California
  • Classification
  • Constellations
  • Coverings
  • Identities
  • Line Of Sight
  • Monitoring
  • Notation
  • Procurement
  • Redundancy
  • Security
  • Virginia

Readers

  • Computer Programming and Software Development.
  • Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Satellites